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Thursday, September 17, 2009

12 Great Resources for Expats in CH

Ok, I admit it. I mainly went to the Expat Expo in Zurich because of the promise of freebies. After living in Switzerland for three years, I didn't so much need information as I needed confirmation that people still really do give things away for free.

Anyhow, I wasn't let down. The event was free. I got a free issue of Inside Switzerland magazine, a free issue of Swiss News, a copy of the International Herald Tribune, a cool reusable bag from Swiss Info, and a Jolly Rancher. One cherry jolly rancher may not seem significant, but if you had been craving this sour candy like I had for the last month, it would have been worth the trip alone (thanks to xpatxchange for that).

But I also got to do a few other things too. Like listen to people speak nothing but English. Like remember how fun eavesdropping can be. I also got to meet some of the folks at World Radio Switzerland, who I had talked to in recording studios but never in person. I tasted various kinds of cheddar cheese (talk about heaven). And get this, I also learned about some resources I didn't know about. Imagine that. So in a two post series for AffordableCallingCards.net, I'm going to share some great stuff about Switzerland (some that I knew about, some that I didn't) that I think you'll enjoy.

Print publications written for the English speaker by Swiss presses:

1. Swiss News is a great monthly magazine to read for, well, news. But it also covers politics, travel & culture, and has a great calendar of events.

2. Inside Switzerland is a quarterly magazine covering fashions and trends in Switzerland. It also has reviews of new products and places.

3. Hello Switzerland is free (what else is there to love) and all its content is written by its readers and editors as opposed to professional journalists although it does have a few reputable writers.

Web Resources

4. AngloInfo This site includes information for Zurich, Basel, Bern, Lucerne & Zug. It's got a list of businesses that serve the international community, a what's on guide, a cinema guide, classifieds and more.

5. Swiss Info A news and interactive multimedia website in nine languages, including English. For accurate news on Switzerland, this is one of my favorite sites. They also have a great blog called Write On. The discussions can get pretty heated here, so be sure to check out the comments.

6. Expat Marketplace A resource for buying, selling, and renting in Switzerland and beyond. Haven't tried it yet, but it looks promising.

For more, visit Part Two, which I'll post next week on ACC. Find out about an online magazine for international moms in Switzerland, an English bookstore and publisher in Basel (as well as a coupon code that will get you 10% off your online order), and when the next expo events are happening near you so you can get your share of what's free in Switzerland.

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About the Author

I’m an American writer who moved to Switzerland in 2006 and am now back in the US to determine if I can live anywhere else after being in a country filled with cheese, chocolate, and people who can pronounce my name. The author of Swiss Life: 30 Things I Wish I'd Known www.swisslifebook.com, and 99.9 Ways to Travel Switzerland Like a Local www.swisstravelbook.com, I have written about Switzerland for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN Travel, and many other publications.
Visit: www.chantalpanozzo.com